Solitude Wool hosted a field day at Martha Polkey’s Black Sheep Farm this Saturday. Wow, what a day it was! It’s the perfect time of year in this region to drive out to the country and soak in the fresh air and Fall colors. I worried a bit about the rain we had Friday, but it cleared up and there was a brisk wind on the hill where the farm is perched, just on the border of Leesburg and the quaint hamlet of Luckett’s, VA.

My good friend and fellow spinner, Kristin (August Moon Farm), invited me to join her spinning at the Vintage Market on Saturday. We spent a few hours demoing spinning and chatting on the porch with the market visitors and volunteers.

People always ask me what wheels and equipment I have. Here is my current list as of Summer 2018. Just a note: I do not have an endorsement deals, these are just the tools I like to work with the most.

I had the pleasure of visiting my friend Kristin's farm this weekend and again early in the week to watch the sheep shearing festivities. The farm is a lively mix of three sheep (Luna, Pheobe, and Cocoa), a dog, four cats, and around nine chickens at last count. It's situated in Northern Virginia on a slope that catches the sun going down just perfectly behind the barn on top of the hill.

I was honored to be a featured artist in the exhibition and to have my photography used in the promotional materials. The Curator, Jennifer also asked me to do the exhibit photography to commemorate the event opening and exhibit.

Sit down with some hot cocoa, a kitty, some “wicked big” handspun, and get ready to knit up something bright for the holidays. This is a pretty easy pattern that will work well with any super bulky thick and thin yarn for a fun afternoon project - the bigger and brighter the better!

Are you thinking about buying a raw fleece? All the choices can be a little overwhelming at first. But don’t worry, I’ve put together some tips to help you pick a fleece with confidence and find one that you will love working with.